“Big changes” have also been promised for the following season, which had been due to begin at Silverstone this September, with the introduction of the new hypercar category.

Organisers said they would need to take into account the precarious financial situation that some teams will be facing. The season will start in March 2021, at the earliest.

WEC is the first major racing series to finalise a revised calendar, but an accompanying statement does warn that the dates could change depending on the continuing coronavirus pandemic, or because of clashes with other FIA World Championship races.

Gérard Neveu, WEC chief executive, said that a late end to the season was the only realistic option.

“The evolution of this global health crisis has left us with little choice,” said Neveu. “It is today impossible to consider organising an international motorsport event before the summer, so we have rearranged the calendar accordingly while keeping the same number of events on the schedule.

“However, we must be prepared for some big changes for next season because we will have to incorporate many parameters, starting with the inevitable economic difficulties that are to come.”

The revised calendar for the current season maintains eight races, to ensure “quality and fairness” for the championship, said Pierre Fillon, president of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), which organises and promotes WEC.